Police sponsoring incomprehensible gangs

The police have mobilized unprecedented forces to crack down on opposition protests since this morning.

Especially in the city centre and Arabkir administrative district, the traffic is paralyzed in some places, and the police sometimes open the streets by using brute force, without even warning.

Both ordinary and special force police officers take part in them.

To open the section of Koryun-Heratsi streets, meanwhile, at some point suspicious people in incomprehensible masks stormed the scene of the action. There was the impression as if they had escaped from a criminal-oligarchic gang.

168.am tried to find out from the police whether the group of people in uniforms and black masks had anything to do with the police, and if so, which subdivision they represented.

We were required to provide a written request – which consists of approximately 10 words, for the response.

The whole incident was broadcast live, we mention the place, exactly where it happened, it requires seconds to identify, but we were asked to introduce a written request.

Could citizens in such a case form a legitimate opinion that the people who used brutal force against the peaceful protesters at Koryun-Heratsi crossroads are members of a criminal-oligarchic gang and are sponsored by the police?

A couple of days ago, the former Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan presented the regulations that should be followed by citizens when they are being apprehended.

“Police officers must be in uniform, and personalizing information must be clearly visible on their uniform, with at least the mandatory first and last names. Meanwhile, the citizen must be able to recognize or identify the police officer approaching or apprehending him or her. This is an international rule aimed at preventing possible unlawful deprivation of liberty or possible unlawful persecution, the use of disproportionate force or ill-treatment.

 The presence of officers in masks or civilian clothes among the police officers who provide the safety of the participants and public order at rallies or other civil demonstrations is unwarrantable,” Arman Tatoyan wrote.

We also contacted the Human Rights Defender’s Office. We were told they would respond after reviewing the videos. We will publish the Human Rights Defender’s opinion on the incident and on the duties of the mentioned groups and the police officers as soon as we get it.

Gohar Savzyan